When your company relies on commercial vehicle drivers, you must adhere to strict Department of Transportation regulations. This requires thorough vetting and screening of candidates to ensure the safety of your passengers or cargo. A DOT employment verification is an expanded version of your standard background check.
Background Checks
Whether you operate a trucking company, transportation business, or any other company that hires commercial drivers to haul freight and passengers in vehicles with a gross weight exceeding 10,000 pounds, the Department of Transportation (DOT) requires your employees to pass a comprehensive background check before they begin driving. DOT checks are more in-depth than standard background checks and must comply with strict government regulations. They’re also a smart way to keep your business compliant with federal regulations and protect yourself from the costly accidents, injuries, and lawsuits that can result from hiring unqualified drivers.
When conducting a DOT background check, you must ensure you have the proper authorization forms and are using a service that can quickly search state motor vehicle records (MVRs) and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) records. Your background check servicer should also be able to obtain a driver’s PSP record, which contains crash and roadside inspection data from the last five years.
Before you conduct any DOT-compliant background checks, make sure to tell your candidates and get their permission. You’ll need to provide them with a written release form informing them that the results of their DOT background check could be used against them and may affect their ability to be hired, fired, or promoted. Using a third-party background check servicer makes this process easier by handling all of the communication and paperwork on your behalf.
Drug Screening
Drug screenings are mandatory for employees in safety-sensitive positions working or applying to work with DOT agencies. The DOT requires any potential hire to undergo regular drug and alcohol tests, especially for positions in the trucking and transportation industries. The DOT employment verification services are more than just a standard background check; they also check a candidate’s previous driving history and verify their company drug and alcohol test records and whether they have refused such tests. Depending on the position you are hiring for, your DOT employment verification may also need to query the FMCSA Clearinghouse for information regarding prior violations, or you may need to contact the applicant’s previous employers manually to request and verify any relevant drug and alcohol violations. In either case, it is vital to inform the candidate that you will be doing a DOT employment verification and getting their written consent before conducting any of these searches.
Driving Tests
A DOT driving test is a road-based evaluation designed to check your ability to drive your vehicle safely. The test route will vary by state, but most include driving through various traffic situations and locations. The evaluator will ride in the vehicle with you and provide instructions throughout the test. You can expect to be tested on your ability to stop your vehicle, back up, maybe around a corner, make three-point turns, and move into lanes of traffic. Some states also require you to demonstrate your ability to parallel park. The evaluator will pay special attention to your ability to change lanes. You should use your signal and mirrors to ensure the lane is clear before accelerating or turning. You should also check your blind spot before changing lanes. This is something that many drivers fail to do, so it’s an important thing to remember. A DOT employment verification is a more comprehensive investigation into a driver’s background and history than a standard background check. This process contacts former employers to ask all of the questions outlined in DOT rules, including a detailed record of accident history, drug and alcohol test records, and refusals to take tests. It’s a vital step in ensuring that the safety of your fleet is protected.
Medical Exams
The DOT medical exam ensures drivers are healthy enough to operate their commercial vehicles safely. It checks for several health issues that could disqualify a driver from driving, including diabetes, high blood pressure, and loss of limbs. Failing the medical exam is not necessarily the end of a truck driver’s career, however, and many drivers who fail their exams can be cleared to drive again after they have made lifestyle changes.
The exam consists of an eye test to see whether or not the driver can identify letters and numbers on an eye chart, a hearing test to determine the ability to hear tones at specific distances and frequencies (even with hearing aids), and a urinalysis to check for diabetes and other conditions. Drivers must also carry identification and bring any prescription medication they take. They must also provide any documentation supporting their exemption from a disqualifying condition, such as limb prosthetics or using habit-forming drugs. Once a driver has passed the physical, their medical examiner will fill out an Official Medical Examination Report 649-F and submit it to the DOT. The DOT will then issue a certificate of compliance that lasts 24 months. If a driver has certain medical conditions, their certification may expire earlier than that.